USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today announced USDA’s 2015 Progress Report that provides an overview of RD’s accomplishments in 2015.
“USDA Rural Development continues to be an effective partner for economic growth in rural Tennessee,” Goode said. “Rural Development invested more than $1.2 billion into our rural communities in 2015 and along with our partners, improved the lives of rural Tennesseans.”
The report includes many examples of ways USDA helps finance infrastructure improvements and promotes rural economic development. Tennessee’s Rural Utilities Program is highlighted with its assistance to help bring water to about 1,300 rural West Tennessee families and businesses.
In rural eastern Henry County, the communities of Springville and Sandy Beach did not have the economic resources to build an expensive public water system to provide safe, reliable water to their residents and businesses. To find a solution, community members from both towns worked with the State to form a utility district to oversee water service in Springville. From there, the towns worked with USDA RD and other partners to secure affordable financing. Their efforts paid off when the public water system began service in February 2015.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted in the report that one of the keys to USDA’s success in rural areas is its partnerships with private lenders, non-profit organizations and community-based groups. USDA is partnering with rural telecommunications utilities, for example, to bring high-speed broadband to rural communities.
In addition to USDA’s support for rural infrastructure such as broadband, RD helped nearly 150,000 families buy, refinance or repair their homes last year. Eleven thousand people lived in affordable apartments because of USDA programs to build or provide subsidies for rental housing.
USDA RD’s programs also provide for a wide range of community needs. More than 21 million rural residents benefitted from USDA support for essential community facilities in 2015. The agency invested $1.8 billion in services such as schools, hospitals, day care centers, first-responder vehicles and equipment and other needs.
USDA helped more than 12,500 rural businesses through $1.5 billion in loans, loan guarantees and grants last year. Since the start of the Obama Administration in 2009, more than 103,000 rural businesses have received $11 billion in USDA investments to start or expand their operations.
The report also sums up RD investments since 2009. Under President Obama, USDA RD has helped more than one million rural residents buy homes; have funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; have provided loans to 5,100 rural businesses; financed 180,000 miles of new and improved electric transmission and distribution lines; supported 254 broadband projects completed with funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, bringing high-speed Internet access to nearly six million rural residents, 17,500 businesses and 1,900 community facilities; and partnered in many other efforts to improve the economic conditions and quality of life for rural Americans.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses, and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Tennessee contact the Tennessee State Office at 615-783-1300. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.